Smile

Jayhawks

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 4, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 4, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004SUGH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,307 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In the mid-1980s, this Minneapolis band shared tavern stages with fellow hometown punk bands like the Replacements and Soul Asylum, dishing out a then-unique blend of country-rock that pre-dated "alt country" by a decade. More than 15 years later, their sixth album is also their second without cofounder Mark Olson. Led by Gary Louris, the newfangled Jayhawks play pop music in the truest sense of the word, and Smile is another trademarked batch of their heartrending laments: hooks that you can't get out of your head ("I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"); melodies snatched off of '70s AM radio ("Mr. Wilson"); epic harmonies from the Big Star handbook ("What Led Me to This Town"); and even a modest attempt at Midwestern hip-hop ("Somewhere in Ohio"). Produced by Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd's The Wall), Smile is a tad slicker than 1997's Sound of Lies. But like its predecessor, this record's charm rests in a handful of dazzling ballads ("Better Days," "A Break in the Clouds" and "Broken Harpoon")--polished, yes, but never overbearing. --Scott Holter

Product Description
Originally Issued in 2000. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ezrin's Magic, May 10, 2000

By	Gianmarco Manzione (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Bob Ezrin, legendary producer for Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, Kiss and Lou Reed among others, touches this album with a subtle production that suits the album's subdued sound and superb songwriting. Every song offers a chorus thick enough to sink your teeth into, with lonely piano or guitar accompaniments that just leap out of the songs and hook your ears. While every song showcases this group's writing talent, tracks like "Smile," "Ohio" and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" exhibit heavanly singing and background vocals that sound very much like the Traveling Wilbury's at times. The music is mature and atmospheric, the songwriting is hot, the vocals are always confident, and this is yet another great Jayhawks release. With the acsessible pop feel to this record, I cannot imagine it disappointing anyone, new fan or old.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Jayhawks Go Big Time, December 4, 2001

By	Bruce Vandal from St. Paul (Saint Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews

A significant departure from their earlier work, Smile offers a more produced and mainstream sound. Purists of their work might be disappointed and argue that they sold out their original sound. I disagree.

A worthy comparison might be looking at the growth of REM from the roots flavored rock of their earlier albums to the breakout hits Green and Out of Time. In my opinion, Smile makes this transition more successfully than REM by appealing to a new audience without giving up the intensity and creativity of their music.

"I'm Going To Make You Love Me" is a fun pop song that might lose its appeal over time but, other songs like the title track, "Somewhere In Ohio", and my personal favorite "Baby, Baby" are as energetic and spirited of tunes that the band has ever produced.

The slower, folksier, "What Led Me To This Town", "Break in The Clouds," and "Mr. Wilson" provide the perfect balance by showing the band and its most poignant.

A true follower of the Jayhawks will still see the underlying themes of their previous work. This album is far from a sell out, in fact it may be their best yet.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is wrong with you people, April 14, 2005

By	Michael Whitman "Mr. Moog" (Bowling Green, Oh) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Smile (Audio CD)

Who cares about production or selling out? I used too but not anymore. I've reached a point in my life where if the music is good, I'll listen to it. Not to say I listen to just any album, I'm still some what selective. Take this album for example. I love The Jayhawks early stuff, it's raw but their new stuff has merit too. You can feel a totally different band on Smile. A band that is trying to find it's place after Mark Olson left. That's not a bad thing, it fact it's great. We, the listener, get a chance to see a group of Artist evolve into a new creature. I wouldn't say The Jayhawks were trying to sell out or get radio play with this album, I think they were just trying something different. Be supportive and give this album a shot. Who says all of a bands albums have to sound the same? Not me.